Before you buy a plot of land, make sure that it holds valid outline planning permission. But remember - planning permission does not mean that building will actually be possible. Land with consent can have restrictive covenants which may limit what you can do with the land.

A building plot is a large purchase yet some companies charge a fee simply for looking at their land database. Others offer plots for sale without a house in sight and may be unlikely to gain planning permission.

Land Agents can provide a valuable service, sometimes dealing with several land sellers they often have the contacts and the access to land from many sources. The Land Agent will be taking a cut of the price you pay though, so the more direct the route to buying land the better.